UNESCO launched the second edition of the Digital Learning Week 2024 at its headquarters in Paris under the theme "Steering Technology for Education." This landmark event held from 2 to 5 September 2024 brought together international and Arab education ministers, leading education experts, and technology specialists to explore the transformative potential of digital tools in education.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted education and skills development, particularly impacting informal sector workers in low- and middle-income economies. This report, published by UNESCO in 2024 highlights significant declines in learning outcomes and increased dropout rates, with the most profound effects felt by learners from disadvantaged backgrounds—even in high-income countries.

As the new academic year unfolds, the focus is on education—a source of inspiration and transformation for Lebanon and the Arab region. In a time of rapid change and evolving challenges, education remains a powerful tool for shaping our future. It’s not just about learning from textbooks; it’s about fostering a culture of curiosity, resilience, and innovation.

نظم مكتب اليونسكو الإقليمي متعدّد القطاعات في بيروت سلسلة من الندوات عبر الإنترنت، كجزء من مشروع تربية 21 الخاصّ بمرجع ممارسات التعليم والتعلم الواعدة ، الذي يهدف إلى تحسين جودة التعليم في جميع أنحاء العالم العربي. غطت السلسلة، التي استمرت من أيلول/سبتمبر إلى كانون الأول/ديسمبر 2023، مجموعة من المواضيع المهمة، بما في ذلك جودة التعليم والتعلم (6 أيلول/سبتمبر)، وتعزيز معرفة اللغة العربية (7 أيلول/سبتمبر)، والتحول الرقمي للتعليم (24 تشرين الأول/أكتوبر)، والتعليم من أجل التنمية المستدامة/ تخضير التعليم (28 تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر) والتطوير المهني للمعلمين (12 كانون الأول/ديسمبر).

The UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Beirut recently hosted a series of webinars, as part of the Tarbiyah21 Repository of Teaching and Learning Practices’ project, aimed at improving education quality across the Arab world. The series, which ran from September to December 2023, covered a range of critical topics, including Quality Teaching and Learning (6 September), Promoting Arabic Literacy (7 September), Digital Transformation of Education (24 October), Education for Sustainable Development/Greening Education (28 November) and Teacher Professional Development (12 December).

UNESCO and the Teacher Task Force presented the highlights of the first global report on teachers on 8 November 2023 during UNESCO’s General Conference.

UNESCO's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, in collaboration with Iraq's Ministry of Education and supported generously by the EU, has played a pivotal role in enhancing vocational education and employability in the country. Focusing on five “Pilot” schools in Erbil, Mosul, Baghdad, Karbala, and Basra, the initiative aims to transform these institutions into Centers of Vocational Excellence.

The Regional Expert Conference for the Arabic Language, held on 27-28 November 2023 in Cairo, marked a significant collaborative effort between the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Charitable Foundation, UNESCO, and the American University in Cairo. Themed “Promoting the Arabic Language in Education to Build More Inclusive Societies,” this event addressed the challenges faced by the Arabic language in contemporary societies. It emphasized its vital role in fostering inclusion within Arab communities while introducing innovative strategies to strengthen the language.